Vital equipment upgrades worth more than $91,000 have been granted to nine volunteer SES and CFA units across the North East.
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The Victorian government’s emergency services volunteer sustainability grants were highly sought after in small units struggling with ageing equipment.
Some of the equipment at Wodonga SES was up to 17 years old so unit controller Rohan O’Brien said he was grateful to receive two grants.
“The money will go towards a better security and equipment upgrade including updating our backup hydraulic pump, which is almost 17 years old,” he said.
“We’ve actually been fundraising for the equipment, that was when we saw the grants open up.
“We saw the grants and jumped on them – it’s great. It’s been a long time coming.”
We saw the grants and jumped on them – it’s great. It’s been a long time coming.
- Wodonga SES controller Rohan O'Brien
The first grant of $18,310 will go towards a keyless security system, allowing volunteers remote access to the building.
“It will make it more secure in here,” Mr O’Brien said.
He said the second $13,000 grant would cover the new hydraulic pump plus a new lighting system for the unit’s support vehicle, which had been operating with only headlights to help volunteers during jobs at night.
The equipment will strengthen the unit’s ability to help victims in road crashes.
“It will certainly benefit our members and the community,” Mr O’Brien said.
Other grants included $12,900 for a thermal imaging camera and lighting for Kiewa Fire Brigade, $4500 for two defibrillators at Beechworth Fire Brigade, and $4157 for a defibrillator and hose washer at Tarrawingee Fire Brigade.
CFA’s District 24 headquarters will also receive a “health monitoring trailer” worth $17,455 and the District 23 headquarters a “hygiene trailer” with a portable toilet and bins.
Northern Victoria MLC Jaclyn Symes said the grants would assist CFA and SES volunteers with their crucial work.
“This is great news for our emergency services in country Victoria and I congratulate all our grant recipients and hope that it assists them in the outstanding job they do in keeping the community safe,” she said.
“I encourage all volunteer brigades and units in Northern Victoria to visit the Emergency Management Victoria website and apply for a grant if they haven’t already done so.”